How to remove MarkiRAT trojan from the operating system

What kind of malware is MarkiRAT?

MarkiRAT is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) used by an Iran-linked threat cluster to surveil Iranian civilians, dissidents, and diaspora communities. According to research published by Recorded Future, the malware is deployed by TAG-182, an Iran-nexus group with possible connections to the Ferocious Kitten threat actor.

Once installed, MarkiRAT silently captures screenshots of the victim's screen and uploads them to an attacker-controlled server. Victims are targeted through counterfeit VPN clients and media players promoted via social media, primarily reaching Farsi-speaking users.

MarkiRAT overview

MarkiRAT operates in the background without any visible interface, relaying stolen information to a command-and-control (C2) server. Captured screenshots are transmitted using multipart form-data POST requests to a PHP upload endpoint on the attacker's infrastructure.

To disguise itself, MarkiRAT runs under the process name svehost.exe - a deliberate misspelling of the legitimate Windows system process svchost.exe. This impersonation can mislead users who spot the name in Task Manager without looking closely.

Persistence and defense evasion

MarkiRAT uses the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) for file operations. BITS is a built-in Windows component normally used by updates and software installations, which makes its misuse far less conspicuous than a typical malware download mechanism.

The malware also manipulates file attributes to hide its files from standard Windows file browsers. Together with process name impersonation, these techniques allow MarkiRAT to maintain a foothold on an infected system without drawing attention.

Conclusion

MarkiRAT gives threat actors a persistent, covert foothold on infected devices, enabling ongoing surveillance through screenshot capture and data exfiltration to a remote server. Its process impersonation and file-hiding techniques make it hard to detect without dedicated security software.

Victims - particularly those targeted because of their political views or ties to Iran - face serious risks: ongoing surveillance, theft of sensitive personal information, and exposure to further exploitation. MarkiRAT should be removed from the system as soon as possible.

More examples of RATs are Starland, DenoRAT, and LabubaRAT.

How did MarkiRAT infiltrate my computer?

According to research published by Recorded Future, MarkiRAT is distributed by TAG-182 through trojanized software packages promoted to Farsi-speaking users via social media platforms, including Instagram. Victims are directed to attacker-controlled domains that serve RAR archives containing the malware payload.

The campaign uses fake applications designed to appear credible - bogus VPN clients and counterfeit media players. Fake sites impersonating a VPN service called StarVPN and a media player called YESHICA YEPlayer have been identified as distribution points. After a victim downloads and runs one of these packages, MarkiRAT is quietly installed on the system.

More broadly, threats of this kind also reach victims through phishing emails, untrustworthy download channels, pirated software, and links shared through messaging apps. Malicious files are commonly packaged inside archives (ZIP, RAR) containing an executable that installs the trojan alongside a believable but fake application.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Only download software from official developer websites or trusted app stores. Fake download pages promoted through social media - particularly those advertising VPN tools, media players, or other free utilities - are a known delivery method for malware. Treat files sent by unknown contacts through messaging apps or email with equal caution.

Keep your operating system and all installed software up to date, and use reputable security software for ongoing protection. Avoid pirated software, key generators, and unofficial activation tools. If you believe that your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Fake websites distributing malicious installers containing MarkiRAT (source: broadcom.com):

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

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Quick menu:

• What is MarkiRAT?
• STEP 1. Manual removal of MarkiRAT malware.
• STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.

How to remove malware manually?

Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically. To remove this malware we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:

If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:

Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:

Restart your computer into Safe Mode:

Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup.

Click the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings".

Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.

Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options".

In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button. In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.

Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.

In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.

Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.

You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".

After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.

Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs.

These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software. To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

My computer is infected with MarkiRAT malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Formatting will remove MarkiRAT but also wipes every file on the drive. A reputable security tool such as Combo Cleaner should be tried first - it can eliminate the infection without destroying your data.

What are the biggest issues that MarkiRAT malware can cause?

MarkiRAT enables attackers to capture screenshots and exfiltrate data from the infected device. This puts victims at risk of ongoing surveillance, theft of personal information, account takeover, and further exploitation by the attacker.

What is the purpose of MarkiRAT malware?

MarkiRAT is used to conduct covert surveillance - primarily targeting Iranian civilians, dissidents, and diaspora communities. Its operators use it to remotely monitor victims and extract information from infected computers.

How did MarkiRAT malware infiltrate my computer?

MarkiRAT has been observed spreading through fake VPN clients and counterfeit media players promoted to Farsi-speaking users via social media. More broadly, threats of this type also reach victims through phishing emails, pirated software, and untrustworthy download sites.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes. Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware threats, including RATs like MarkiRAT. Running a full system scan is recommended to ensure all components of the infection are found and eliminated.